Tire valve



J. D. LEAR TIRE VALVE Aug. 7, 1934.

Filed Dec.

a 8 7 /r/nrff? ,gn/manto@ JOSe/az llLeaf @@MALMQ 'lil il Patented ug. 7, 1&934'

UNITED Y STATES TIRE vALvE Joseph D. Lear, Buialo, N. Y., assignor to Sterling Automotive Products Corporation, Bualo, N. Y.

Application December 29, 1990, sea1N0.505,440 1 s claims. '(c1.152-12 This invention relates to valve mechanisms for pneumatic tires, and especially to those located in the dust cap at the extremity of a valve stem.

In prior structures, attention'has chiefly been directed to the perfection of the valve devices located and secured entirely Within the valve stem. Dust cap structures of various 'types have also been provided, some of which having an additional dust valve to protect the inner valve 1ocated in the valve stem, and at times'to control the operation of the same. It is the prime object of this invention to entirely eliminate the necessity of locating the air valve Within the valve stem. This is accomplished by locating the same within the dust cap, which may be applied or removed therewith. The dust cap, when screwed on the valve stem, completes a valve assembly in a novel manner and includes an air valve anda valve through which air is: supplied to the tire without the necessity of'removal of the clust cap, as in the present widely used valve-structures.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a separate means for seating the dust valve and air valve, and to control the operation of the air valve in its opened position by the vactuation of the dust valve. In addition to this,'portions of the air valve structure in turn cooperate to guide the dust valve during movement thereof.

Other features of the cooperative valve struc- 30 tures are chiey aimed at simplicity ofdesign,

with the object of obtaining economicalmass production. p 1

These'and other features and objects of the invention are more specifically set forth in the accompanying drawing and specification.

In the drawing:-

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of 'the dust cap applied to a valve stem of a pneumatic tire.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged view of Fig. 1 in partial cross section.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view showing the valves and associated parts in disassembled relation and `arranged in their assembling order.

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view, similar to Fig. 2,

l of a further embodiment of the invention.

The numeral 1 indicates a housing or dust cap body which is of tubular form and partially closed at its top extremity to form an angular wall 2 having a central opening 3. The interior of the opposite extremity of the body is threaded at 4 and the threaded portion terminates in a seat mounting portion or annular shoulder 5. Immediately above the threaded portion the body is reduced in diameter to form a spring chamber 6. A dust valve 7, preferably of rubber, is inserted within the springchamber, abuts the angular wall 2 and is provided with an opening registering with the opening 3. Adust valve provided with an annular seat portion 8 extending angularly from a hollow stem portion 9 is mounted within the 60 spring chamber* 6 with the 'hollow stem portion 9 extending through the seat'l andthe opening 2 of the body.

A springandvalve assembly is mounted within the body as a separate unit and consists of a valve stem or rod l0 Vhaving a reduced rivet portion' 11 at one extremity, and an ear portion 1l' struck out of the rodnear its central portion. An air valve 12,v preferably of hard'rubber or the like,vis mounted on the reduced portion l0 and 7 securedthereto by a suitablewasher 12' through which the reduced portion extends and is riveted with'the washer. A-number ofcooperating members are now assembled about the vrod and.v air valve assemblyin the following order;-a valve seat member 13 having a cylindricalhub provided with an annular ange 14 and an angular valve seat-15; anv annular gasket 16 mounted about thehub'portion and abutting the annular flange 14; an air valve spring 17 mounted about 80 the rod; a circular-'guide washer 18 having ilat air entry portionsrl9 and a central opening 20 engaging about the rod; and a dust valve spring 2lhaving leaf spring portionsr22 land a central opening 23 engaging about the rod. The assem- 85 bly 4is completed by first compressing the spring 17 and then striking the ear portions 11 out of the rod 11. The ear portions engage the spring 22 and retain the spring 17 under compression between the guide Washer 18 and the seat member 90 13, thereby resiliently retaining the air valve 12 on its-seat 15.

v'Ihe assembly above described is adapted to be inserted within the body 2 with the marginal portions of the annular ange 14 seated against the 95 shoulder 5 therein, and With the gasket 16 lightly engaging lthe walls adjacent the extremity of the threaded portion to retain the entireA assembly frictionally therein. Upon this insertion, the top extremity of the rod will enter into the hollow portion of the dust valve 7 and will be spaced from the top extremity thereof and the flat dust valve spring 2l will resiliently engage the lower extremities of the angularseat portion of the dust valve and urgethe same upwardly to seat against the dust valve seat 7.

Upon screwing the dust cap upon the valve stem of a tire, indicated at 25, the top extremity of the latter member will engage'the gasket 16in an air-tight connection. `This is'the only opera- 110 wall 28 or the housing. an enlarged end portion indieatedat 33 .forme I te tion necessary for assembling the dust cap with a pneumatic tire valve stem. 1n operation, when an air gun is applied to the protruding portion of the dust valve stem 9, it will be thrust downwardly until the top extremity of the rod 10 engages therewith, upon which both the rod and dust valve will be conveyed downwardly to open or unseat the air valve 12 from its seat 15, thus establishing communication between the air gun and the interior of the pneumatic tire for inflating purposes. It will be noted that during the downs ward movement of the rod 10, the rod will be guided against angular displacement by the guide Washer 18 which slidably contacts with the wall of the spring chamber A6, The top end of the rod is also guided by contact with the inner walls of the dust valve. When the air gun is removed, a reversal of the above described-action takes place, and the spring 1'7 moves the rod upwardly and seats the air valve 12 on its seat 15. l Simultaneously with this action, the spring 17 urges the relatively `lighter dust valve spring 21 into engagement `with the dust valve to properly seat the saine. rhespring 21, being relatively weaker than spring 17 is compressed thereby without substaritally` effecting or retardlng the loading ofthe valve 1 2 `by the'heavier spring.

The dust valve is chiefly intended for use to prevent dust, water, or other undesirable sub-- stances from entering into the spring chamber, but through the construction above described, the dust valve, upon iailure of. the airvalve 12, will aet as .an auxiliary air valvaasitv is properly oonstrueted to provide an air-,tight sealP in Fig. fl a further and simpler embodiment of the invention is shown. In rior housing 26 vis provided andeoinprises a eylindrieal portion 2'? threaded at its'innerdiameter and having a top Wall. :28 drilled through to form an inlet 29..; A easing 30. is pressed over the auxiliaryhousing and eolie-prises a tube olosedat its upper end and havingadust valve opening 3.1 therein. The upper portion ofthe easing is .ref duced in'dameter to form aspiring Chamber 32 which terminates in 'theA shoulder portion 33, Prior to pressing the lower portion of the casing on thew housing 2da valve structure-is assembled with the latter part.

The valve structure comprises a seating ineinbery .3.4 which is preferably of rubber and eylinf drical in icrrn, .and provided with a central :port 35. At'the top extremity o this member, angane nular ilange .36 is provided which abuts the top A rod 37 is provided with ing an-air valve Wliiohis adapted to seatat the extremity of the seat member 34. The rod exe tends upwardly through the airinletport 29- and its top extremity is seeuredin any suitable man.- ner to a dust valve39, dust valveiseonieal in shape andelosed atitssupper end, sueh end protruding through theY opening 31 of `the lease ing. Immediately beneath the dust valve a guide washer Li0 is mounted about the rod lfandextending between said Washer and the annular flange 360i the seat member, an air valve spring liscompressed and mounted, t

Whenl the casing is` pressedonto the k housing 26, the llatter member is enclosed therein with its Yannular flange 36 abutting the shoulder 3 3 of the casing. This completes the assembly and thevalve spring 41 and accompanying `washer 'are completely .housed within a SpringA chamber S2-.of the casing with the Vwasher' in sliding cone taotwith Ythe `inner walls. thereof.` Intliisenfi this vdevioefan intebodiment the dust valve has slight clearance with the'opening 31 to permit the unimpeded seating of the air valve 38 on its seat member 34. When this assembly is screwed down on a tire valve stem, the upper face of such stem engages the annular ange 36 of the seat member which acts as a-gasket in the assembly to provide an ain-tight joint.

1. In a cap for a tire valve stem,v a housing `having a valve seat at one extremity and formed for detachable connection with a valve stem at the opposite extremity; a dust valve on said valve seat having a portion extending through said Valve Seats; a valve and seat assembly removably mounted inthe Vhousing comprising, a seat member having an annular portion and an axial 4`seat, an air valve on said seat, a rod secured to the air valve and extending through the seat member, a spring mounted about the extending portion oitthe rod. and abutting the said meinbena guide Washeron the rod engagingsaid spring, a leaf spring on the rod abutting the Washer, and meanson the rod engaging the leaf spring Yagainstdisassernbly therewith; said assembly beinginserted in the housing as aunit., the annulary portion of the seatportion being rigidly clamped upon assemblyoi the housing with the valve stern, said guide washer slidably engaging within the housing to guide said vrod vforvaxial.movement and said leaf spring engaging saiddustvalve to resiliently retain the same on its seat, said dust valve being depressible to unseated position on its valve and contacting With ,andu moving said rodto unseat said air valve.

In acap lor a tire valve stem, a housing formed for detachable connection with a valve sterny at one Yextremity and having an opening formed in its freeextrernity, a xed valve'seat within thehousi'ng adjacent said Vfree extremity, a shoulder in the housing spaced from said seat; a valve and seat assembly-unit removably mounted in thehousing comprising a seat member having an rkannular portion and aseatportion co-axial therewith vand extendir-ig therefrqm, a` gasket Afriotionally,engaging about the seat member', a valve on the seat portion, a rod secured to the valverandextending through the seat member, resilient means about the rod for retaining the valve on theseat-portion, a second valve adepted to engage the seat in the housing and formed with a recessed portion slidably receiving the extremity ofA the rod, a second resilient means about the rod `for engaging the second valve to retain the same on its seat, said unit being bodily inserted in the housing whereuponitheannular portion of the seat member is adapted to be rgidly clamped to the shoulder of the housing upon assembly of the housing to ,the valve stern, said second valve upon said assembly having a` portion protruding through the opening in the free extremity of the housing.

3. 1n a cap forv a tire valve stem,a Yhousing viormed with a Cylindrical chamber openl at opposite ends and formed at one end with means for lsecuring r,to a stem and having a-vxed linternal seat at its opposite end, a valve on said seat having a portion extending .through the housing, a secondvalve seat carried by the housing in spaced @ist and coaxial relation to the Vfirst seat, a valve on i said second seat having an axially projecting por tion extending spaoedproxirnity to the first valve.; axial wall means on the iirstvalvetslidably receiving the end oi saidv projecting portion,

'guide vineens lon one of ,said valve slidablyengagv1150 ing the wall of said chamber and mounting said valve in substantial concentricity therewith, whereby said extending portion of the first valve is adapted to be depressed to unseat the same and is further depressible to engage the first valve with said projecting portion to unseat the second valve, and resilient means for returning each valve to its respective seat, said guide means and said projecting and axial Wall portions cooperating to retain said Valves in concentricity with their seats during return movement.

4. In a cap for a tire valve stem, a housing open at opposite ends and formed at one end with means for securing to a stem and having a fixed internal seat at the opposite end, a valve on said seat having a portion extending through the housing, a second valve seat mounted within the housing in spaced and coaxial relation to the iirst seat, a valve on said second seat having an axially projecting portion extending in spaced proximity to the rst valve, axial Wall means on the first valve slidably receiving the end of said projecting portion, whereby said extending portion of the rst valve is adapted to be partially depressed to unseat the same and is further depressible to engage the rst valve with said projecting portion to unseat said second valve, and resilient means for urging each valve to its respective seat.

5. In a cap for a tire valve stem, a housing having a xed internal valve seat at one extremity unseat said first valve, and is further depressible to cause the unseating of the second valve.

6. A cap member adapted to be secured to a tire stem, comprising a housing formed with a cylindrical chamber open at opposite ends and provided at one end with means for securing to a stem, a pair of spaced valve seats within the housing, a valve on each seat, one of said valves being mounted for guided axial movement in the housing chamber, rod means connected to the second valve and extending to the rst valve in spaced relation thereto, means on the first valve for slidably receiving the adjacent end of said rod means, whereby said end of the rod means is retained against axial misalignmentA by the rst valve, and resilient means for each valve for urging each valve to its respective seat.

JOSEPH D. LEAR. 

